Mechanical retaining means of a cosmetics case

ABSTRACT

A rotating cosmetics case intended to receive a cosmetics product, such as a stick of lipstick or lip cream, comprising a metal jacket ( 5 ) fitted on a sheath of synthetic material, while the metal jacket ( 5 ) and the sheath of synthetic material are held mechanically in a form-fitting manner, that is, one of the parts comprises at least one protruding profile, while the other comprises at least one recessed profile, the recessed and protruding profiles being arranged correspondingly.

The present invention relates to means for mechanically retaining a metal jacket on a synthetic covering, a rotating case of the type of those used to contain cosmetic products, such as a stick of lipstick or lip creams.

During transport, storage and repeated use of this type of cosmetic case, there is a risk that the metal sleeve disengages from the synthetic casing, thus preventing its use. This phenomenon is accentuated when the cap is fitted directly onto the metal jacket. This latter is activated in traction upon each use when removing the cap.

A metal jacket is commonly attached by the use of adhesives. The major disadvantage of this method of attachment is that it requires an intermediate operation prior to final assembly, the implementation of which is complex. This method also requires a precise amount of adhesive, especially to avoid any smearing. The adhesive may also present a failure to hold under extreme conditions, such as during mechanical or thermal shock, during the conditioning phases of the lipstick paste or lip creams, as well as during the shipping phases of the products.

Another commonly used means is the mechanical clamping of the metal jacket at the periphery of the covering of the synthetic material. This means of fixing has a significant impact upon the operating torque of the rotating mechanism. This is not acceptable on a case of good quality. This means also does not guarantee the hold, because the clamping is impacted by the dimensional variations in production and the compositions of the synthetic material.

The present invention thus proposes mechanical means of holding, making it possible to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks.

Thus, the rotating cosmetics case, intended to receive a cosmetics product, such as a stick of lipstick or lip cream, according to the invention, comprises a metal jacket fitted on a synthetic sheath, while the jacket metal and the sheath of synthetic material are held mechanically in a form-fitting manner, that is, one of the parts comprises at least one protruding profile, while the other comprises at least one recessed profile, the recessed profiles and protruding profiles being arranged correspondingly.

According to one embodiment, the part comprising at least one protruding profile is the metal jacket, the said at least protruding profile being directed towards the interior, namely towards the synthetic sheath, while the latter comprises at least one recessed profile.

According to the previous embodiment, at least one protruding profile is passing through the wall of the metal jacket, creating at least one opening, while at least one protruding profile passing through, is composed of a window and a shape protruding inwards.

According to the previous embodiment, the wall of the synthetic sheath comprises a complementary shape to the window arranged correspondingly, the said complementary shape protruding outwards, namely towards the metal jacket.

According to another embodiment, the part comprising at least one protruding profile is the synthetic sheath, the said at least protruding profile being directed outwards, namely towards the metal jacket, while the latter comprises at least one recessed profile.

According to the previous embodiment, the profile of the metal jacket is a window.

It may be added that according to one embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is a spiral covering, comprising at least one helical groove on its inner face, while the rotating cosmetics case comprises a sheath with slide(s), comprising in the upper portion, an upper stop means protruding outwards, in which is mounted a sliding cursor, intended to receive the said cosmetics product, the said cursor is equipped with at least one lug engaged in the said slide and extending in a spiral groove of the spiral covering, this latter is fitted on the said sheath and is held, in the upper part, by the upper stopping means.

According to the preceding embodiment, at least one helical groove corresponding to a first zone, which will be qualified as a negative zone, and a second zone which will be described as a positive zone, corresponding to the zone arranged between two portions of helical groove while at least one protruding profile, is located correspondingly from at least one positive zone of the spiral covering.

According to another embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is a sliding sheath comprising an upper portion, in which the metal jacket is encased, and a lower part comprising at least one slide, the metal jacket is preferably encased in a cradle located in the upper portion of the inverted sliding sheath, while a cursor for receiving said cosmetics product is encased in the inverted sliding sheath, while a spiral covering is fitted on the lower portion of the latter.

According to another embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is a guide, comprising an upper portion in which is fitted the metal jacket, and a lower portion, while the lower portion of the guide is fitted on the upper portion of a piece commonly called a nut, while a lower portion of a cursor is a rod encased in a threaded inner portion of the nut.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a cosmetics case according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlargement of FIG. 2 according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4a is an enlargement of FIG. 2 according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4b is a front view of FIG. 4 a.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a permanent deformation according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a permanent deformation according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a permanent deformation according to another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a cosmetics case according to another embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a cosmetics case according to one embodiment.

Thus, a rotating case, according to the invention, comprises a metal jacket (5), commonly known as a metal body, on which a closing cap is directly or indirectly fitted, this metal jacket (5) itself being fitted on a sheath of synthetic material and maintained mechanically secured in a form-fitting manner.

According to one embodiment, the rotating case is provided with a closing cap, which is detachably positioned directly at the free end of the case, and comes into a closed position positioned around the metal case (5) to completely close the rotating case in a hermetical fashion.

According to another embodiment, the closing cap is fitted indirectly around the metal jacket (5), via an annular rib arranged at the lower periphery of this latter.

It is added that the mechanical hold is achieved by the assembly in cooperation with protruding profiles and recessed between these two parts, namely the metal jacket (5) and the sheath of synthetic material.

Note that one of the parts comprises at least one protruding profile, while the other comprises at least one recessed profile, the recessed and protruding profiles being arranged correspondingly.

According to an alternative of the invention, at least one protruding profile is arranged on the metal jacket (5), the protruding profile being directed inwards, namely towards the synthetic sheath, the latter comprising at least one recessed profile, arranged correspondingly.

According to another alternative, at least one protruding profile is arranged on the synthetic sheath, the protruding profile being directed towards the outside, namely towards the metal jacket (5), this latter comprising at least one recessed profile, arranged correspondingly.

According to a third alternative, combining the two previous alternatives of the invention, the two parts assembled in a form-fitting manner, each comprise at least one protruding profile and at least one recessed profile.

The form-fitting profiles are produced either prior to assembly, or during shaping or molding, from the metal jacket (5) and the sheath of synthetic material, or after assembly of these latter.

It should be noted that a protruding profile is advantageously a protrusion (13), a recess (14) or a window (15) and a protruding shape (16), whereas a recessed profile is advantageously a window (15), a recess produced by pressure or a molding in the synthetic sheath.

According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 3, at least one protruding profile is a protrusion (13), preferably at least two protrusions (13) arranged diametrically opposite, and is/are produced by a non-perforating, permanent deformation in the wall of the metal jacket (5).

A protrusion (13) is produced, according to one embodiment, by a pinning process, resulting in at least one internal deformation of the wall of the metal jacket (5). This method of pinning is advantageously achieved by the use of two tools comprising an etching of the geometry of the protrusion (13).

These resulting protrusions (13) have the shape of the corresponding etching, preferably having a profile comprising at least one edge, such as pyramidal, prismatic or any other shape.

According to another embodiment, at least one protruding profile, at the level of the metal jacket (5), is produced by a pressing method, resulting in a partial cutout from the wall. The resulting pressing (14) is for example in a semi-cylindrical shape, at least open upwards, as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b.

According to the preceding embodiment, a recess (14) at least open upwards, comes to create a counter form, namely a recessed profile at the wall of the synthetic sheath during assembly by pressure of this latter with the metal jacket (5), but it could be otherwise, a recessed profile complementary to the recess (14) is produced prior to the fitting of the metal jacket (5) on the sheath of synthetic material. Thus, a recess (14) at least open upwards, collaborates with a counter form, produced beforehand or molded, at the level of the wall of the sheath of synthetic material. The counter form and the recess (14) producing a protrusion coming into a complimentary fitting, ensuring mechanical support of the assembly.

According to another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, at least one protruding profile is produced by puncturing. A puncturing process produces a window (15) and advantageously a specific shape (16). This specific shape (16) creating a protrusion, either creating a recessed profile in the synthetic sheath during assembly, or collaborating with a recessed profile arranged in this latter.

According to the previous embodiment, in addition to the collaboration of shape between the shape (16) and the recessed profile arranged in the synthetic sheath, a protruding profile at the level of this latter collaborates with the window (15) of the metal jacket (5).

According to one embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the synthetic sheath comprises a complementary shape (19) protruding outwardly, namely towards the metal jacket (5), preferably molded, to the window (16) corresponding to a recessed profile. The complementary shape (19) producing a protrusion and the window (15) coming to fit complementarity, ensuring a mechanical maintenance of the assembly.

Various rotating case mechanisms each comprising a metal jacket fitted on a synthetic sheath are available on the market. However, the sheath made of synthetic material generally has a different function and constitutes a structurally differentiated part, such as a spiral covering (4), an inverted sheath (20) with slides (10) or a guide (21). These different rotating case mechanisms will be explained in the following description.

According to one embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is a spiral covering (4). Thus a rotating case, as illustrated in FIG. 2, advantageously comprises a ring (1) attached to or forming an integral portion of the portion of the lower portion of a sheath (2) with slide (10), inside which is mounted a mobile, moving cursor (3) for receiving a cosmetics product. The sheath (2) with slide(s) (10) is encased in a spiral covering (4) mounted in association with a metal jacket (5) in a form-fitting manner. The sheath (2) with slide(s) (10) and advantageously the ring (1), form a subassembly, mounted to move freely in axial rotation relative to the assembly, formed by the spiral covering (4) and the metal jacket (5).

It is to be added that the sheath (2) with slide(s) (10), allows driving of the cursor (3) in axial translation, during the axial rotation of the assembly formed by the ring (1) and the sheath (2) with slide(s) (10). This assembly is arranged in such a way that the axial rotation of the ring (1) causes the cursor (3) to move in a twisting motion. This movement breaks down into constituent parts into a rotation and a translation, both simultaneously and axially, with respect to the assembly formed by the spiral covering (4) and the metal jacket (5).

It is noted that the sheath (2) with slide(s) (10) comprises preferably two slides (10) arranged diametrically opposite, formed longitudinally in at least a portion of its cylindrical wall.

It is specified that the sheath (2) with slide(s) (10) comprises an upper stopping means (8) and a lower stopping means (9) protruding outwardly. In other words, these stopping means (8, 9) are advantageously represented by annular peripheral ribs.

The spiral covering (4) has in its inner wall at least one spiral groove (6) closed at least at its upper end, preferably two spiral grooves (6), diametrically opposed.

The spiral covering (4) thus comprises at least one spiral groove (6) corresponding to a first zone, which will be described as a negative zone, and a second zone which will be described as a positive zone, corresponding to the zone arranged between two portions of spiral groove (6). It is understood that the positive zone has a greater thickness than that of the negative zone.

At least one profile is advantageously arranged at at least one positive zone of the spiral covering (4). This configuration makes it possible to avoid a malfunction of the cursor rotation mechanism (3) at at least one spiral groove (6) of the spiral covering (4).

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one protruding profile mounted in association with at least one recessed profile, are located at a positive zone of the spiral covering (4).

The spiral covering (4) is held by the upper stopping means (8) and the lower stopping means (9) of the sheath (2).

The metal jacket (5) advantageously comprises, in the upper portion, a flange (11) protruding inwards.

The cursor (3) further comprises at least one lug (7) traversing at least one slide (10) of the sheath (2) and associated with at least one groove (6) of the spiral covering (4). At least one lug (7) thus cooperates in a sliding fashion with at least one slide (10) and extends in a spiral groove (6), enabling the engaging of the cursor (3) in axial translation with respect to the ring (1) during the rotation of the assembly formed by the spiral covering (4) and the metal jacket (5).

The upper portion of the ring (1) is advantageously inserted between the outer portion of the sheath (2) and the inner portion of the spiral covering (4), below the lower stopping means (9) of the sheath.

According to another embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is an inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) (10). Thus, a rotating case, as illustrated in FIG. 8, comprises a metal jacket (5) advantageously fitted to the upper portion of an inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) (10), inside which is mounted moveably in translation, a cursor (3) for receiving a cosmetics product, while a spiral covering (4) is fitted on the lower portion of the inverted sheath (20) with slide (10). More specifically, the metal jacket (5) is encased in a cradle located in the upper portion of the inverted sheath (20) with slide (10).

The inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) (10) further comprises an upper stopping means (8) and lower stopping means (9) protruding outwardly, while the spiral covering (4) is held by these latter.

According to the previous embodiment, the inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) (10) allows the engaging of the cursor (3) in axial translation, during the axial rotation of the spiral covering (4).

According to another embodiment, the sheath of synthetic material is a guide (21). Thus a rotating case, as shown in FIG. 9, comprises a metal jacket (5) fitted on a guide (21). This latter is fitted on the upper portion of a part commonly called a nut (22) (or nut in English). A lower portion of a cursor (3) for receiving a cosmetics product, namely a rod, is embedded in a threaded inner portion of the nut (22). The cursor (3) is driven in axial translation inside the guide (21) by the rotation of the nut (22). 

1. A rotating cosmetics case, intended to receive a cosmetics product, such as a stick of lipstick or lip cream, comprising a metal jacket (5) fitted on a sheath of synthetic material, wherein the metal jacket (5) and the sheath of synthetic material are held mechanically in a form-fitting manner, and wherein one of the parts comprises at least one protruding profile, while the other comprises at least one recessed profile, the recessed and protruding profiles being arranged correspondingly, the part comprising at least one protruding profile being the metal jacket (5), the said at least protruding profile being directed inwards towards the synthetic sheath, while the synthetic sheath comprises at least one recessed profile, wherein the at least one protruding profile passes through the wall of the metal jacket (5) creating at least one opening.
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 1, wherein the at least one protruding, passing-through profile comprises a window (15) and a shape (16) protruding inwards.
 5. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 4, wherein the wall of the synthetic sheath comprises a complementary shape (19) to the window (15) correspondingly arranged, the said complementary shape (19) protruding towards the metal jacket (5).
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 1, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises a spiral covering (4) comprising at least one spiral groove (6) on its inner surface.
 9. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 8, further comprising a sheath (2) with slide(s) (10) comprising in the upper part, an upper stopping means (8) protruding outwardly, in which a slideable cursor (3) is mounted for receiving the said cosmetics product, the said cursor (3) is equipped with at least one lug (7) engaged in the said slide (10) and extending in a spiral groove (6) of the spiral covering (4), this latter is fitted on the said sheath (2) and is held, in the upper portion, by the upper stopping means (8).
 10. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 9, wherein the spiral covering (4) comprises at least one spiral groove (6) corresponding to a first zone, which will be described as a negative zone (17), and a second zone that will be described as a positive zone (18), corresponding to the zone arranged between two spiral groove portions (6), while at least one protruding profile is located in correspondence to at least one positive zone (18) of the spiral covering (4).
 11. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 1, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises an inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) comprising an upper portion in which is encased the metal jacket (5), and a lower portion comprising at least one slide (10).
 12. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 11, wherein the metal jacket (5) is embedded in a cradle located in the upper portion of the inverted sheath (20) slide(s) (10).
 13. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 11, further comprising a cursor (3) for receiving the said cosmetics product, said cursor (3) encased in the inverted sheath (20) with a slide (10), while a spiral covering (4) is hafted on the lower portion of this latter.
 14. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 1, wherein the synthetic sheath is a guide (21), comprising an upper portion in which is fitted to the metal jacket (5), and a lower portion.
 15. A rotating cosmetic case according to claim 14, wherein the lower portion of the guide (21) is fitted on the upper portion of a part commonly called nut (22), while a lower portion of a nut (3) is a rod encased in a threaded inner portion of the nut (22).
 16. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 4, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises a spiral covering (4) comprising at least one spiral groove (6) on its inner surface.
 17. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 5, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises a spiral covering (4) comprising at least one spiral groove (6) on its inner surface.
 18. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 4, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises an inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) comprising an upper portion in which is encased the metal jacket (5), and a lower portion comprising at least one slide (10).
 19. A rotating cosmetics case according to claim 5, wherein the sheath of synthetic material comprises an inverted sheath (20) with slide(s) comprising an upper portion in which is encased the metal jacket (5), and a lower portion comprising at least one slide (10).
 20. A rotating cosmetics case adapted to receive an associated cosmetics product, said cosmetics case comprising a metal jacket fitted on a sheath of synthetic material, the metal jacket and the sheath being held together mechanically in a form-fitting manner, said metal jacket comprising a protrusion and said synthetic sheath comprising a recess wherein the protrusion of the metal jacket is aligned with and received in the recess of the synthetic sheath, the metal jacket comprising a wall including an opening formed therein and said protrusion protruding from said opening. 